Ankor Thrume processed the rotting, particle-laden air through the grille of his augmetic filtration units and gazed at the burning skyline of Grestian Bay, the Heretic forces had broken through the noble Skitarii's initial attempts at containing them in the Outlands. They had tracked the Chaos forces movements across the dried ocean floors of the planet and waited as they set up a base of operations in Grestian Bay, confirming the blessed Magi's hypothesis that the next clue to the Omnissiahs artifact was buried somewhere within the vast sprawl of once majestic trading concourses and coastal palaces. It was his duty to ensure that they did not escape again, the vast campaign of orbital bombardment and Precision Airstrikes had been in service to this end, crippling the lesser forces of the unaugmented human infantry that stood in his Maniples direct line of advance, and ensuring that all avenues available to other traitor armored groups or fast reaction infantry were mired in chemical fire, rubble, and debris.
His true target was finally revealing itself, clad in ceramite and gripping chainswords, backlit by the white glow of centuries dead city. Thrume would have grinned if he still had a mouth; he pulsed deployment orders to his Maniple across the noosphere. The Battle was nigh
Centurions of Innocence 5th Company [Chaos Space Marines]
Points: 753
Legion: World Eaters
HQ
[Warlord] "The Lamb" Chaos Lord
- Trait: Violent Urgency
- Mark of Khorne, Plasma Pistol, Ul'o'cca the Black Axe
Daemon Prince
-Hellforged Sword, Mark of Khorne, Talisman of Burning Blood, Wings
Exalted Champion
-Mark of Khorne, Gorefather, Plasma Pistol.
Troops
Chaos Cultists
-9 Cultists W/ Autogun, 1 Cult Champion, Mark of Khorne
Khorne Berzerkers
-3 Berzerkers with Bolt Pistol and Chainsword,
-1 Berzerkers with Plasma Pistol and Chainsword
-1 Berzerker Champion with Plasma Pistol and Power Fist
Khorne Berzerkers
-3 Berzerkers with Bolt Pistol and Chainsword,
-1 Berzerkers with Plasma Pistol and Chainsword
-1 Berzerker Champion with Plasma Pistol and Power Fist
Elites
Helbrute
-Mark of Khorne, Power Scourge, and Reaper Autocannon
Possessed
-5 Possessed, Mark of Khorne.
Skitarii of Forge World Metallica [Adeptus Mechanicus]
Points: 744
Forge World: Metallica
HQ
[Warlord] "Ankor Thrume Uh-8" Techpriest Enginseer
- Trait: Learnings of the Genetor (PA)
- The Omniscient Mask
Techpriest Manipulus
-Trait: Divinations of the Magos
-Magnarail Lance, Mechanicus Locum
Troops
Skitarii Vanguards
-4 Vanguard with Radium Carbines
-1 Vanguard Alpha with Radium Carbine
Skitarii Vanguards
-4 Vanguard with Radium Carbines
-1 Vanguard Alpha with Radium Carbine
Skitarii Vanguards
-4 Vanguard with Radium Carbines
-1 Vanguard Alpha with Radium Carbine
Elites
Secutarii Hoplites
-9 Secutarii Hoplites with Arc Lances, and Mag-Inverter Shield
-1 Hoplite Alpha with Arc Lance, and Mag-Inverter Shield
Secutarii Hoplites
-9 Secutarii Hoplites with Arc Lances, and Mag-Inverter Shield
-1 Hoplite Alpha with Arc Lance, and Mag-Inverter Shield
Sicarian Ruststalkers
-5 Sicarian Ruststalkers with Chordclaws and Transonic Razor
-1 Ruststalker Princeps with Transonic Blades
Fast Attack
Sydonian Dragoons
-3 Sydonian Dragoons with Phosphor Serpenta and Taser Lance
Dedicated Transport
Skorpius Dunerider
-2 Cognis Heavy Stubbers, Twin Cognis Heavy Stubber
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So, myself and Chris are back at it again, with our Chaos versus Adeptus Mechanicus narrative slow-grow campaign. This time, the mission was a pure and simple Kill Points game, with deployment along long table edges, as it was likely to be the last game we played in 8th Edition, it felt appropriate to use the "classic" game setup.
The Mechanicus Set up, along the town's outskirts, with the Dunerider on their far-right and filled with Sicarian Infiltrators, the core of the battleline comprised of Vanguard and Hoplites is a vicious prospect to attack, and the Sydonian Dragoons are a punishing unit that, if you allow them to survive will absolutely tear a hole in your forces. Chris' Mechanicus force is very interesting, as its highly aggressive and close combat-focused, with aura debuffs from vanguard and truly intimidating damage output from their specialist units.
My Chaos forces set up within the heart of the town, I was attempting to get as far forward as I could, and overlap my Character's aura abilities onto my Berzerkers, which would be pivotal if I was going to overcome the Vanguard-Hoplite wall
I lose a Berzerker squad to the entire armies worth of Mechanicus fire, and move up my troops, using the cultists to screen my left from the transport mounted Ruststalkers, and positioning the rest in preparation for a charge
Both forces move forward aggressively, I think I made a critical error in this turn, with my placement of the Daemon Prince, I chose to go after the core of the Mechanicus forces, which hampered my placement of models and likely led to their encirclement and destruction in the coming turn. I was considering going after the Dunerider and its occupants with the prince, which may have been a better choice as it would have forced some of the Mechanicus' infantry to either commit to helping the Infiltrators, or at the very least would have slowed the Ruststalkers down
I committed the majority of forces into destroying the Sydonian Dragoons, (which are an excellent "distraction carnifex" im finding), this led to me killing that target, and damaging some Vanguard, but opening up the majority of my force to be counter charged by Hoplites. My hope was that I would have enough of my forces left after the counter attack, to be able to break out and continue my attack, this proved to be wishful thinking.
In the end, the Mechanicus' Counter-attack, consisting of both HQ characters, debuffing Vanguard, and the very hard hitting Hoplites did a lot more damage to my main forces than I was really hoping they would, and the Ruststalkers tore into my rearguard and really shut down the game. It was a textbook encirclement by Chris, and I do really need to be more careful with how I commit to different targets in Melee. I think that target prioritization really cost me the game here, but regardless it was a ton of fun to play, and i'm looking forward to locking blades again with Chris soon in 9th Edition.
Thanks so much for reading and I hope you all stay safe!
Nice new banner.
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